Jimmie Allen announces shows at Bottle and Cork

Milton native and country singer Jimmie Allen has set a September performance as his first concert since his career was rocked by two lawsuits accusing the singer of sexual misconduct.

Allen said of the Friday, Sept. 29 show at the Bottle and Cork in Dewey Beach, “I’ve spent a lot of time home in Delaware the last few months, hanging with family/friends, fishing and bowling. Being home made me fall in love with music again and remember why I began this journey. It’s only right to start my next run of shows in the place where it all started. I haven’t quite decided what exactly I’m gonna play yet, but it’s going to be a blend of some oldies, along with new songs. Just looking forward to connecting with my fans through music again.”  

The Sept. 29 show sold out almost immediately, prompting concert officials to add a second show. As of July 24, that show is also sold out. 

He said he was looking forward to being back on stage again. In addition, through his public Instagram page, the singer has been teasing new music in the future.  

The announcement of the show, billed as There’s No Place Like Home, comes as Allen has increased his public profile since the allegations first became public in May.

In a statement to the Cape Gazette regarding the allegations, he said, “As a result of numerous false allegations, I have engaged with a legal team to proceed with an appropriate course of action to protect my reputation and refute these claims that have caused severe damage to my family, mental health and business. I’ve taken a couple months before publicly responding to these claims, because I wanted to fix my family first. This situation has caused me great humiliation, and I felt it was necessary to seek professional help. For years, I have dealt with racism and harmful threats solely because I am a Black man in the country music industry, and this situation has only amplified that. 

“As the son and brother of rape victims, and the father of daughters, these false claims are extremely hurtful to me and everyone around me. These false allegations have caused me to lose a vast number of business and endorsement opportunities that I worked extremely hard for. These false allegations have also not only harmed me, but have caused severe financial damage to my band, my team and their families. 

“As the legal process runs its course, I look forward to the opportunity to clear my name. I am forever thankful for those who have stood by me and helped me share the truth. My team and I look forward to putting this behind us and getting back to the music.”

Allen has countersued the two women who have accused him of sexual misconduct. According to court documents filed in the U.S. District Court for Middle Tennessee, Allen, through his attorney Jonathan Cole, denied the allegations of sexual assault and rape brought forth in two separate lawsuits by Jane Does while also seeking damages from both women. In the case of Jane Doe 1, a former assistant, Allen is alleging defamation, invasion of privacy, emotional distress and tortious interference with business relations. 

In the case of Jane Doe 2, a woman Allen met on a flight to Nashville and later spent a night with in Las Vegas, Allen is alleging the woman unlawfully took Allen’s cellphone, used to record a sexual encounter the two had in a hotel room. 

In the original Jane Doe suit, the woman was assigned to Allen by his then-management company, Wide Open Music, and its founder, Ash Bowers, which were both named as defendants. The suit claims that in May 2020, Allen would openly sexually harass the woman, including making comments from the stage and in front of production crew about her status as a single woman and how hot she looked. The suit also alleges that Allen sexually assaulted the woman in 2021 following a taping of “American Idol.” 

The woman has made claims of sex trafficking, battery, assault and false imprisonment against Allen; participation in a venture engaged in sex trafficking, gross negligence, negligence and negligent failure to warn, train or educate against Bowers and Wide Open Music; and intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligent infliction of emotional distress against Allen, Bowers and Wide Open Music.

Both Allen and Wide Open Music have denied the allegations and have moved to dismiss the case based on failure to state a claim. In addition, Allen’s attorneys state in court documents, the plaintiff’s claims are barred by statute of limitations and there are no special circumstances justifying the use of a pseudonym.

As for Jane Doe 2, she alleges that she met Allen on a flight from Sacramento to Nashville in May 2022. After a few months, Allen and the woman agreed to meet in Las Vegas, where Allen was scheduled for several public appearances in July 2022. 

The woman said following the appearances, Allen invited her to his room, where Allen and the woman went out on the balcony of Allen’s suite. Allen and the woman kissed and then went into the bedroom where they had sex. After the encounter, the suit says, Allen passed out on the bed.

After that, the suit says, the woman walked past the bedroom closet, where she noticed a cellphone with the camera pointing toward the bed. The woman grabbed the phone, stopped the recording and tried to delete the video. She then left the room and took the phone with her. Upon returning home, she took Allen’s phone to her local police department and reported what happened to her. The police there said they would report the incident to the Las Vegas Police Department.

In his response, Allen says the cellphone recording of their encounter was consensual and that Allen offered to delete the video off the phone personally but the woman refused. According to court documents, he also alleges that after the Vegas encounter, Jane Doe 2 requested Allen reimburse her for her flight – which he did – and requested an invite to one of his concerts. 

After the allegations from Jane Doe 1 were made public, Allen was suspended by his record label, BBR Music Group, and by his management company, UTA, and was removed as the commencement speaker for Delaware State University’s graduation ceremony and the lineup at the annual CMA Fest.